A69234:1215
Lectures upon the four first chapters of the prophecy of Hosea Wherein the text…Lectures vpon the foure first chapters of the prophecie of Hosea Wherein the text…
Lectures upon the four first chapters of the prophecy of Hosea Wherein the text is expounded and cleared, and such profitable instructions observed, and applied, as naturally arise out of this holy Scripture, and are fit for these times. By John Downame Bachelor in Divinity, and preacher of Gods word.Lectures vpon the foure first chapters of the prophecie of Hosea Wherein the text is exponded and cleered, and such profitable instructions obserued, and applied, as naturally arise out of this holie Scripture, and are fit for these times. By Iohn Dovvname Bacheler in Diuinitie, and preacher of Gods word.
London: printed by Felix Kyngston and T. East for William Welby, 1608
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Concerning the first, the Lord threateneth that because there was no difference to be found between the people & the Priests, but that both had utterly neglected their duty: the Priests by living in ignorance, idleness & luxuriousness, neglecting the preaching of the word, whereby they should have instructed the people, and misleading them by their false doctrine, into errors for their own game & advantage: the people in that they willingly desired to live in ignorance, & rather chose to be under the leading of those blind guides, because they would securely go on in their sins, then under Gods true Prophets, who would gall their consciences by their reproofs: therefore without difference or respect of persons, he would inflict upon them like punishments, that is, he would deprive both of all signs of his love and favour, cause both to be led into captivity, subject both to ⟨p. 193⟩many miseries and calamities, and make both alike contemptible and inglorious.
Concerning the first, the Lord threatneth that because there was no difference to be found betweene the people & the Priests, but that both had vttterly neglected their duty: the Priests by liuing in ignorance, idlenesse & luxuriousnes, neglecting the preaching of the word, whereby they should haue instructed the people, and misleading them by their false doctrine, into errors for their owne game & aduantage: the people in that they willingly desired to liue in ignorance, & rather chose to be vnder the leading of those blind guides, because they would securely goe on in their sinnes, then vnder Gods true Prophets, who would gaule their consciences by their reproofes: therefore without difference or respect of persons, he would inflict vpon them like punishments, that is, hee would depriue both of all signes of his loue and fauour, cause both to be led into captiuitie, subject both to ⟨p. 193⟩many miseries and calamities, and make both alike contemptible and inglorious.
The which punishment as it did lye heavy upon all the people in that they should be stripped of all the benefits which they enjoyed, and subjected unto want and misery, be made of free-men, bond-slaves, and of the children of God, the servants of their enemies, so most heavily did it lye upon the Priests, in that they fell as it were from the highest stair of honour, riches, and dignity, unto as low a bottom of penury, contempt, and ignominy, as the meanest of the people. Where as there is any respect of persons, in punishing of them, though the offence be one and the same, yet are the punishments divers and different, for those who are noble and in high place, more fair and easy punishments; for those of mean and base estate, those which are more cruel and ignominious: but the Lord telleth the Priests here, that he would have no regard of their place, but without all respect of person or calling, would cause their punishment to be as sharp and shameful as the basest of the people. The like place unto this we have.